I love Trader Joe’s produce – it’s almost always high quality at a great price. The bagged apples are one of my favorite items since they’re smaller than average, perfect for snacking. Unfortunately, this most recent bag of Fuji apples tasted more like Granny Smiths.
This delicious Polish honey was just the thing to sweeten them up – and I’ve been trying to find a reason to bake with it.
I’m not a fan of pies – the crust, whether flaky or crumbly or soft, just never appeals to me. And because cakes are usually covered in buttercream, cake almost always wins out over pie. I should have made an icing for this – maybe next time. This cake is based on an Ina Garten recipe that I’ve made several times in the past, with a few tweaks, of course.
I replaced the plums with apples, and used 3 tablespoons of honey rather than making a glaze from a cup of sugar and water.
If you’ve been following my blog, you’ll know I’ve been waiting oh-so-patiently for my husband to finish my kitchen – purchasing cabinets, countertops, and finally a sink (as of last week). Since all of my kitchen tools are still packed away in boxes from my bridal shower, I’ve been using mostly my grandmother’s hand-me-downs.
Mary Lou just passed away this past March, but using her bakeware (and ironing board and many other random household items) is such a nice way to remember her. I talked before about how I have so many good memories of being in her kitchen, and even this simple pie dish had me wondering if it contained the pumpkin pie she made for Thanksgiving the year we visited in South Carolina or the pineapple torte that she’d bring to my parents’ (and that I never really liked). 
Anyway. This is Ina’s recipe, tweaked and lightened up, including substituting Chobani for the sour cream and applesauce for some of the butter. Her butter is probably $8.99/lb from the Hamptons anyway.
The toughest part about this cake is flipping it out on to the serving dish at the end – loosen the edges, take a deep breath, and have faith.
Honey Apple Upside Down Cake
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Ingredients
- 3 small apples, sliced thin (about 1.5 cups)
- 3 Tbsp honey
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 4 Tbsp butter, divided
- 3 Tbsp applesauce
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1/3 cup Chobani 0% greek yogurt
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup + 2 Tbsp all purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
Generously grease a 9-inch pie dish and pre-heat oven to 350.
Melt 1 Tbsp of butter in a medium saucepan. Add apple slices, honey, and cinnamon, stirring occassionally until apples are soft.
Add apples to greased dish, pressing down to form an even surface.
Cream together remaining butter, applesauce, and sugar until well mixed.
Add eggs one a time and beat to combine.
Add yogurt and vanilla, mixing well.
Combine dry ingredients, then add to wet in three stages, mixing just until combined.
Pour batter evenly over apples and bake 32-38 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
Let cool for 15 minutes, then gently loosen the sides of the cake and invert on to serving dish.
Approximate nutrition (per 1/8th of cake, a generous slice): 265 calories, 7g fat, 47g carbs, 4.4g protein
Before we could enjoy this as our Saturday night dessert, Adam and I did a quick photo shoot – I’m going to be featured as a local blogger in one of my favorite Pittsburgh publications and they requested a photo of me with a recipe. I’m used to taking pictures OF my food but not pictures WITH my food.
Cheese!
Pie or cake?
Ahh, I’m excited to see where you’ll be featured, how exciting!! Since moving I’ve fallen off the face of the planet, yikes!
Also- as soon as I get into my kitchen I’ll be making this for sure, looks yummy!
Leanne @ The Skinny Architect recently posted..All this energy callin’ me
Thanks, Leanne! How is the wedding planning going?!
This looks so good, apple desserts are my favorite!
Laurie @ Love, Laugh, Laurie recently posted..Recap of an Amazing Weekend in Dallas
Wow! Congrats on being featured! That is quite an honor
And congrats on finding a use for that honey
haha
Brittany @ Itty Bits of Balance recently posted..Wedding, Workout
Thanks, Brittany!
can’t wait to try this recipe! I love all apple desserts so I’m sure I’ll like this one as well
Danica @ It’s Progression recently posted..New Upper Body Workout: 3-Set Success
Let me know how it turns out if you try it!
What publication? I’ll have to check it out! Congrats!
Michelle @ Blogitness recently posted..Fitness Bucket List
I always get my produce from Trader Joe’s! It keeps so much longer than my other local grocery store. And the price is even cheaper at Tj’s!
Amanda @flecksofgreen.com recently posted..1st Bout with Brussel Sprouts
Exactly! Better quality and better prices – but I always end up with other random things from TJs, too!
Congrats on being a featured blogger in the publication! That’s exciting for sure! And that cake looks reallllly good – I think I will have to try it out (just slightly modified to make it vegan) because I have 2 bags of apples that I’m not keeping up with. I’m usually more of a pie person, but as long as the cake isn’t dry, I’ve been liking cake a lot too (I mean, if it’s desert, I like it, pie or cake
)
Kelly @ Leafy Not Beefy recently posted..Fashion Fridays
I love pie, but it is no match for cake
This looks wonderful!
Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic recently posted..Red Wine Pasta with Shrimp and Tarragon
I almost spit my coffee out at the “butter from the Hamptons” line.
Great idea to sub in yogurt…this looks DELICIOUS.
Sarah @ The Smart Kitchen recently posted..Sauer-prise!
Well she has to mention her place in the Hamptons several times per episode, so I thought I should work it in to the post at least once.
Look at you miss apple pie beauty!
Ahhh Claire this looks awesome! I bet the husband loved it!
Miss ya girl and hope all is well!!
I’m working on planning a meetup, we need to see each other soon!
wow this looks awesome! i’m definitely more of a pie girl. i won’t refuse a good piece of cake, but i much prefer pie!
Ashley @ My Food ‘N’ Fitness Diaries recently posted..Camping Trip Food List
That final flip always stresses me out too! I love this cake though! In the summer I like berry pies…in the winter I definitely prefer cake.
I love berries, but just can’t get in to pie crust. I’ll take a crumble or a crisp any day!
that looks so delicious! and what a cute pic of you!! i’m definitely pie — preferrably pumpkin:)
caralyn @ glutenfreehappytummy recently posted..Hasselback Red Potatoes & Breaking News!
Cake, all the way!
I love that you used your grandma’s bakeware. I love to make my grandmother’s desserts from her old recipe cards.
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table recently posted..A New Challenge + Protein Powder Review
Ah Claire!! What an awesome picture of you!! Glad I came to your blog today to see this. Doing accelerated summer courses and balancing life is so hard sometimes. Thank goodness I finish on Friday.
I’d say cake all the way. This recipe looks SO amazing, too!!!
char eats GREENS recently posted..the ‘everything from your garden’ potato salad
Phew, summer courses are killer! Best of luck! I’ll mail you a piece next time!
CARROT CAKE FOR ME PLEASE
Oh wow does this look amazing! I pinned it. Gonna be making it once fall comes around. Looks delicious!!
Kammie @ Sensual Appeal recently posted..Marvelous in my Monday #3 + Beachbody ChaLean Extreme Review
I love the look of this upside down cake Claire. The presentation is gorgeous. I think you have done really well with the apples and that the honey and cinnamon flavours would be wonderful xx
Hotly Spiced recently posted..Social Etiquette
Oh that’s so special that you get to bake with your grandmas pie dish and the great memories it bring along with it.
And way to go on flipping of your cake.. it turned out great!!
congrats on being featured! and that cake looks heavenly! i love the “take a deep breath and have faith” – life lessons as well as baking tips!
teabagginit recently posted..Chocolate Protein Brownie
Thanks, T – I didn’t even think of it that way!
Everything from Trader Joe’s is awesome!
You’re too cute, Claire! I love the last photo–perfect for that publication feature! (Congrats!!!)
I grew up on pineapple upside down cake, but I’ve never tried any other fruit at the bottom. This looks amazing, and I love that it’s a lightened Ina recipe (all of her recipes are wonderful!).
I think I’m more of a pie girl, mainly because the fruit always seems more fresh in pie, but if we’re talking about banana cake with peanut butter frosting, I go weak in the knees.
Hope you’re having a wonderful week! xoxo
My grandmother loves Pineapple Upside Down Cake too – I just had the apples on hand!
I can’t believe you’re a pie girl – make me that banana cake some time?
PIE PIE PIE, although you cake looks delicious.
Bake cake,bake a pie does it really matter?
Just bake!
Don’t forget to “pat the bottom” of the pan before putting in the oven.
Cake,pie,coffee